The CHA University, Department of Biomedical Science in Korea has discovered that the fucoidan sugar which consists of L-fucose, along with xylose, galactose, and mannose has devastating results for a wide range of well known cancers. This 2010 research paper can be found in the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health website. This research compliments earlier cancer reserch.

AIMS: Fucoidan, consisting of L-fucose together with xylose, galactose and mannose, is a sulfated polysaccharide from brown seaweeds, which has been reported to affect the development of adipocytes. However, the role of fucoidan in adipogenesis remains elusive. In the present study, we have investigated the inhibitory effects of fucoidan on adipocyte differentiation via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

MAIN METHODS: Differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was induced in the presence or absence of fucoidan. The effects of fucoidan on adipogenic gene expression and MAPK activation were investigated.

SIGNIFICANCE: Overall, these findings are a strong indication that fucoidan might inhibit adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, due to inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway that involves adipogenic transcription factors